One of the biggest advances in technology needed to truly expand humanity into the Solar System will be efficient and cost-effective manufacturing while in space.
Made in Space seems to be taking the lead with their 3D printing tech onboard the ISS, and joins a growing list of companies (through their Archinaut service) looking to create manufacturing capability while in a vacuum with a variety of materials, including fiber optics.
There are many, but here are some lesser-known early-stage companies and services striving to achieve this:
Check out other Space Manufacturing startups and companies in the full NewSpace Ventures Database